The Rise of Christianity

Jesus

• At the age of 30, Jesus began preaching a unique version of Judaism throughout Judea
• This version of Judaism would later be known as Christianity
• Jesus taught that he was God’s son and that God would rid the world of evil

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Beliefs

• Jesus was called the “Son of God” and a “King”
• Jesus taught about God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness towards people
• Christianity embraced all people
• Promised life after death for all people.
• Appealed to poorer people who were not wealthy like Romans.
• Jesus developed a following and these people were called disciples

How do We Know About Jesus?

• Because of the Pax Romana, these ideas of Christianity were able to spread quickly
• Followers of Jesus wrote about the teachings and experiences that occurred during his life.
• These writings were called Gospels, meaning ‘good news’
• Can be found in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.
• The Old Testament is used by the Jewish faith which does not believe Jesus was the true Messiah.

The Threat of Christianity

• Many Jews in Judea did not accept the idea that Jesus was the Messiah
• Some of these leading Jews accused Jesus of the crime of blasphemy (disrespect for God)
• The Romans rulers also feared Jesus’ rising popularity amongst Jews
• Romans were afraid that Jesus might lead a rebellion against the Romans

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The Crucifixion of Jesus

• The popularity of Jesus with the poor angered the Romans and the Jews.
• Who is true leader? Emperor or "Son of God”/“King”????
• Jewish leaders turned Jesus over to the Roman governor of Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate to be Crucified.
• Jesus was executed by crucifixion, the Romans’ favorite form of capital punishment

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The 12 Apostles

• The Apostles molded Jesus’ teachings into a new religion called Christianity
• Much of what is known about Jesus comes from the writings of his Apostles
• Apostle means “One who travels”.
• Christianity spread quickly due to roads, numerous trade routes, and common language

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Persecution of Jews and Christians

• Romans hated the Christians and Jews because they did not recognize the emperors as Gods.
• Christians were used as scapegoats, blamed for social and economic problems
• Christians and Jews were persecuted by the Romans
• Roman leaders crucified and tortured Christians and Jews as traitors.
• Others were killed during gladiator events (such as by being fed to lions)

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Christianity Spreads

• Christians who were executed were honored by other Christians as martyrs, those who sacrifice their lives for their beliefs
• Martyr- People who suffer or die for their beliefs
• This only helped spread Christianity
• Christianity continued to spread due to the fact that all people were welcome
• The Roman empire could not stop the spread

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The Jews Strike Back

• 66 AD- Jews rebel against the Romans.
• 70 AD- Romans stormed Jerusalem and destroy their temple, leaving only the Western Wall a.k.a the “wailing wall”.
• 73 AD- Jews and Romans fight at the Battle of Masada.
• Over 500,000 Jews died in this battle, mostly of suicide.
• Today- The Western Wall is Jerusalem’s holiest shrine.

Christianity Under Constantine

• In 312 AD, Constantine became Emperor of Rome.
• During Battle, he saw an image of a cross and won.
• 313 AD- Constantine issues the Edict of Milan making Christianity a legal religion in Rome.
• To strengthen the religion he called the Council of Nicaea to establish the core beliefs of Christianity, leading to the Nicene Creed.

Main Idea 3:� The spread of Christianity began �during the empire.

• Christianity is based on the life, actions, and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
• Christianity began in Judea in southwest Asia but quickly spread through the rest of the Roman world.
• Early Christians traveled from city to city, teaching people about their beliefs. As a result, large communities of Christians formed in many Roman cities.